What-A-Burger facts for kids
| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founders | Jack Branch and Paul E. Branch Jr. |
What-A-Burger is the name of a small group of restaurants started by brothers Jack and Paul E. Branch Jr. and their family in 1957. The very first restaurant opened in Newport News, Virginia, near a busy traffic circle. Soon, more What-A-Burger places popped up in cities like Richmond, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg, Virginia. These were all along busy roads. Another family member also opened a What-A-Burger in Greenville, South Carolina, in the 1950s.
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The Story of What-A-Burger
The first What-A-Burger restaurant in Virginia opened in 1957. It was started by Jack Branch near Newport News, Virginia.
Where the First Restaurant Began
The first What-A-Burger was located at Newport News Circle. This was a very busy intersection in what was then Warwick County. (Warwick County later joined with Newport News City). The area was important for travel, especially after World War II. It was before the big U.S. Interstate Highway System was built.
The original restaurant was run by Jack Branch's brother, Paul E. Branch, Jr. Years later, the store moved a short distance away. This happened after a project updated the highway. That first What-A-Burger store is still open today, as of August 2025.
More Locations Open Up
Jack Branch helped open more What-A-Burger restaurants. These were in Richmond, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg, Virginia. There was also one in South Carolina. The Virginia stores were often along U.S. Route 1 (Virginia). This was a main road before Interstate 95 was built. Another Richmond location was added on State Route 161.
Where to Find What-A-Burger Today
The very first What-A-Burger is still open. You can find it at 6117 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News, Virginia. It's just west of its original spot.
Changes in Restaurant Locations
Some What-A-Burger locations in the Richmond-Petersburg area have closed. The store at 1018 Boulevard in Colonial Heights, Virginia, closed in 2015. A newer, more modern location opened nearby in Prince George, Virginia, in 2013. This new store likely led to the older one closing.
One of the oldest Richmond locations is also closed. It was at 909 Jefferson Davis Hwy. and was sometimes called "BJ's Big Burger." However, two other locations are still open. These are at 9901 Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and at 2350 W Washington St. in Petersburg, Virginia.
Roy's Big Burger
There's a restaurant called Roy's Big Burger. It's connected to What-A-Burger and serves similar food. You can find it at 5200 Lakeside Ave. in Richmond, Virginia. Another Roy's Big Burger used to be at 4108 Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Richmond, but it's now a Mexican restaurant.
Other Restaurants with Similar Names
Other "What-A-Burger" restaurants were started by different people after World War II. For example, a small chain in Concord, North Carolina, is called What-A-Burger Drive-Ins. It was founded by Eb Bost and C.W. Bost, Jr. Their family still runs several locations. These stores are numbered, from #1 in Kannapolis, North Carolina, to #15 in Concord.
What-A-Burger vs. Whataburger
It's important not to confuse the What-A-Burger restaurants in Virginia and the Carolinas with the much larger Whataburger chain. Whataburger is based in Texas. Harmon Dobson started a "Whataburger" restaurant in Texas in 1950. He got a trademark for the name.
The Texas-based Whataburger grew very large. It has about 800 locations across the southern United States. In 2007, its sales reached $1 billion for the first time. This chain has restaurants in Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It does not have locations in the Carolinas or Virginia. However, Whataburger has announced plans to open stores in Charlotte and the Triangle area, as well as nine locations in South Carolina.
What Makes What-A-Burger Special
What-A-Burger restaurants are known for their large burgers. These burgers are bigger than what you might find at many other fast-food places. They also have smaller menus than bigger chains. The food is usually cooked right when you order it, and you can often watch them make it.
Even though many people now use the Interstate Highway System, the Branch family's What-A-Burger locations have stayed popular. They have many loyal customers, especially during lunch. People who review these restaurants online often say they have been eating there for many years. A recent review in the State newspaper's blog mentioned how to order: "You can order either the regular What-a-burger or the What-a-burger with cheese; ordering it 'all the way' comes with mustard, onions, pickles, lettuce and tomato, although you can also add ketchup and mayo, or request grilled onions."
A Lawsuit Over the Name
Understanding the Trademark Lawsuit
For many years, the Branch family and Harmon Dobson (who started the Texas chain) didn't know about each other's restaurants. In 2004, a federal trademark infringement lawsuit happened. This was between the Virginia What-A-Burger companies and the Texas-based Whataburger chain.
The lawsuit showed that the founders likely found out about each other's businesses in 1970. During the lawsuit, representatives from the Texas chain said they had no plans to open restaurants in Virginia. (The North Carolina What-A-Burger chain and others with similar names were not part of this lawsuit).
The Court's Decision
The legal case ended in 2004. The court decided that no real harm had been done to either company. It also found that people were not likely to be confused. The court said, "There is no evidence... that consumers are currently likely to be confused about whether the burgers served by Virginia W-A-B come from Texas or Virginia." This meant both companies could keep using their names.
See also
- List of hamburger restaurants
